CleanTechnica•about 1 month ago
58 Gigawatts Of Solar Power Are Hiding In Plain Sight
Key Takeaway
The substantial, often overlooked, distributed solar capacity significantly alters grid dynamics and energy market planning for developers and large power consumers, demanding a re-evaluation of traditional supply-side assumptions.
AI Summary
- •The US has an under-recognized 58.1 GW of solar capacity, primarily distributed or behind-the-meter, as reported by the US Energy Information Agency as of last October.
- •This significant 'hidden' capacity impacts grid demand, energy market dynamics, and the business case for new utility-scale projects, often flying under the radar of traditional grid planning.
- •The growth of this distributed solar fleet demonstrates resilience to policy headwinds, suggesting robust market drivers for smaller-scale installations despite broader political efforts.
- •Developers and large power consumers should account for this substantial distributed generation when assessing grid stability, interconnection queues, and local energy procurement strategies, as it fundamentally alters the supply-demand landscape.
Topics
datacenterinterconnectpolicysolar
Article Content
For all the efforts of the Trump administration to trample on the renewable energy momentum, the hits just keep on coming. Gigantic utility-scale solar plants get most of the attention, of course, but according to the US Energy Information Agency, as of last October, a total of 58.1 gigawatts’ worth ... [continued] The post 58 Gigawatts Of Solar Power Are Hiding In Plain Sight appeared first on CleanTechnica .